How has the Hebrew Bible impacted the intellectual development of the West? How might a deeper understanding of Saul and David’s biblical narrative help us read Shakespeare’s meditations on the nature of kingship? In this episode, Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, director of the YU’s Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, examines the legitimacy, majesty, and humility of monarchy (or lack thereof) in Shakespeare’s Richard II and Macbeth.

Audio Credits:

Richard II: Episode 1, WYNC Studios + The Public (2020) 

Patrick Stewart as John of Gaunt in The Hollow Crown, "Richard II"

William Shakespeare's Richard II, Act 3, Scene 2, played in the Netflix original series The Crown (Season 3, Episode 6)

Mentioned in This Episode:

Renaissance England's Chief Rabbi: John Selden by Jason P. Rosenblatt

Shakespeare's Kings: The Great Plays and the History of England in the Middle Ages: 1337-1485 by John Julius Norwich

This Is Shakespeare by Emma Smith

Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber

Hosted by Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Shaina Trapedo

Produced by Uri Westrich and Sam Gelman

Outro by Straus Scholar Ayelet Brown

Learn more about the Straus Center

Like the Straus Center on Facebook

Follow the Straus Center on Twitter

Follow the Straus Center on Instagram

Connect with the Straus Center on LinkedIn